Member Reviews
4.5 stars.
This was so good. Cheesy, awkward, and second-hand embarrassment? Oh yes. But so daamn good. I loved following Blair and Emory, how their relationship unfolded, it was no insta- love here. It took time, and I kept rooting and hoping they would figure out how much they meant for each other. I really enjoyed how Emory was; his flaws and all. Blair was so lovable. I just wanted to give her a hug. The ending was a little rushed, but particularly good!
The premise of this book sounded like something I would really love, but unfortunately it just didn't work as well as I'd hoped. I've read other Cupid books that were too similar, and this one just took too long to get into.
I really thought I would enjoy this book. It sounded really fun and sweet. Unfortunately, I ended up DNF'ing this book at about 35% through. It was just so boring. The characters were plain. The story was dull. It wasn't entertaining in any way. I tried to read this story on three separate occasions and couldn't finish it either time.
Interesting and unique plot. A relaxed and chill read for everyone. The story is not too fast-paced. Would definitely recommend!
Description
Emory hates his job—almost as much as he hates being called “Cupid.” Tasked with spreading love throughout the Earth realm, Emory wields his arrows with reckless abandon and matches couples based solely on their entertainment value. On the same day his impulsive behavior triggers an audit, he accidentally breaks the heart of his most dependable client, Blair. Blair completely loses her ability to feel love and desire, and as her matchmaker, Emory expects her to be furious. Instead, she agrees to help him salvage his floundering career on one condition. He must find her the perfect man. Emory sets out on a frantic search for her soulmate, and Blair seems to find amusement in the diversion. But as the barrier surrounding Blair’s broken heart grows stronger, she is unable to connect with suitor after suitor, leaving Emory to console her after each failed match. Emory and Blair’s unexpected bond turns into friendship, and soon Emory finds himself falling in love with the one woman who can’t love him back. In a race against time, Emory must mend Blair’s broken heart before her condition becomes irreversible…and before the audit committee banishes him for this grave error.
My Review
Beaus and Arrows has all the ingredients to make this a great cozy novel. Cupid is shown in human form and since his job has been to spread love we see he has been going to the same coffee shop for the last five years and no one knows his true nature. HIs current assignment is Blair, the problem arises when he messes it up and Blair no longer feels love and desire.
The characters are well-crafted and I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The issue I have is that the ending is a bit confusing and because of that it leaves you a bit perplexed.
I was excited about the concept of this book. Even though it is not my typical reading preference, I went into it with an open mind.
I really liked the main characters, Emory, aka Cupid, and Blair. I found myself laughing out loud on occasion and was engrossed in the story. The end, however, left too much open and unfinished for me to give it 5 stars.
Thank you Rashida T. Williams, Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.
I liked the concept, but wasn't a fan of the delivery. There was something too casual and flip in narrative for my tastes. I agree with the reviewers who noted the characters grow on you, but it is a hard slog to get there.
Originally I missed the opportunity to download this book before it was archived and I was so disappointed that I went and bought it!! And I’m so glad I did ! What a fun, adorable, and magical romantic book! I really enjoyed it :)
Beaus and Arrows is a cute new adult romance, it drew me in at the beginning, but the ending didnt seem like it resolved anything. This book reminded me a lot of "Cupids Match" by Laura Palpheryman and it was really hard not to compare the two.
If you like cute new adult romance then I would recommend it.
The story starts off with a amazing flow that will have readers wanting more as the story moves forward but the end leaves readers confused and wanting more.
The characters grow develop and are extremely likable as you finish the books. The story is a fun cute romance.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Rashida T. Williams Beaus and Arrows
I enjoyed this take on the demigod, "Cupid;" very modern & no nonsense.
Emory, our Cupid, he's actually not a huge fan of love & in fact, has never fallen in love himself.
So...the question becomes, how can he do his job when he doesn't know how it feels or what to expect?
Emory is getting "love" audited to see how he's doing as a love match maker & by the looks of things, he's coming up a little short; especially with his favorite person to match up, Blair. When he thinks he's made a match, Emory finds out that it isn't & Blair's heart is broken & now he's got to fix it & all the other relationships he's started that he has to make sure are stable, healthy & good.
While Emory & Blair are on this quest for Emory to pass his audit so that he won't be banished from Earth & his job, they become friends & Emory eventually falls in love with Blair. He keeps on trying to show Blair but he just won't come right out and say it. Emory could loose it all...
I would definitely recommend this book.
An interesting take on Greek mythology (cupids)! It's a fun and sweet adventure from start to finish and perfect for both those who have been struck by cupid's arrow or just want a witty romance.
Ever wonder if Cupid hated his job like we all do? Well, Emory, the lead character here, is proof positive.
Emory has taken up the mantle of Cupid (with a fancier species name) to replace his dad, after he lost motivation to do the job properly. He isn't super motivated and mainly makes matches to watch the fireworks play out (for good or bad). All of that gets put under a microscope when he gets notified of an upcoming audit of his work. The possible punishment for misuse of his powers? Getting sent where his dad went, being exiled away from all his creature comforts. He probably could've faked his way through it if it wasn't for Blair.
Blair is a free spirit, quick to fall in love, easy to recover from a broken heart, but one bad relationship too many puts her in a sort of numb state. It's this state that makes her immune to Emory's arrows, no matter how desperate he is to remedy his mistake. Forced to out himself to her, they form a budding relationship (strictly friendship at first), that gives Emory a glimpse into his "target"'s hearts and minds. Through their shared experiences, he is finally able to appreciate the importance of making the correct matches and when he should quit forcing things.
I'll admit, in the beginning I really did not like Emory. He's arrogant and just... a jerk. He grows a lot, though, mostly through Blair's guidance and some hard lessons learned. He definitely redeems himself by the end, and we get a good HEA.
Written by Rachida Williams, Beaus and Arrows follows Emory, a Vycrin (a.k.a. a cupid) is in trouble, he is up for a review and none of his matches are confirmed in long term relationships, particularly Blair is lone client that was just dumped and had her heart broken. Because Emory is more concerned with being entertained by his clients than finding them good matches.
This novel was well written, and a good little rom com for anyone looking for a sweet, very slow burn with a lot of side plot.
While the premise isn't super unique right now, the characters that Williams has written were witty and I wanted to keep reading about them.
One aspect that I enjoyed is that we really discovered the characters as the story progressed. It wasn't all a word dump as soon as we meet the character. That could be a point of contention for some readers.
If you like a sweet romance (that would pass the pg or maybe even the g rating) this is an excellent choice with a touch of fantasy.
I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Beaus and Arrows is a very cute concept. Emory is cupid, and his job is essentially as a matchmaker. But ironically Emory doesn’t believe in true love…so he’s terrible at his job.
So terrible that he messes up the love life of one of his favorite clients and breaks her heart. The only way to fix this is to work together with the broken hearted Blair. And the cherry on top of this bad situation is that Emory is being audited by the powers that be, so he’s on a time crunch.
Beaus and Arrows was adorable. Emory and Blair slowly come together and become friends, bonding over his job and the terrible dates he sets her up on. Emory especially grows as a character, learning that perhaps love isn’t the awful thing he thought it was, as he catches feelings for Blair.
Their banter was hilarious, and I loved reading about their antics together. While the plot was a tad predictable, and the ending conflict got resolved a little too easily, Beaus and Arrows was still a fun and enthralling read. I adored it and will be watching for more from this new-to-me author!
This is the debut novel of author Rashida T. Williams. I went into it thinking it would be an okay read. Boy was I wrong, it far exceeded my expectations. I was gripped by the characters, and while Blair was somewhat interesting, I loved Emory and how he grows as a character and a person.
There are some hints to greek mythology with the naming of some of the hierarchy that Emory belongs to, but it is a unique take on cupid that I haven't seen before. This is well worth a read.
I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.